Tool for handling spring clips



June 25, 1957 E. A. TUTTLE 2,796,661

TOOL FOR HANDLING SPRING CLIPS Filed July 30, 1954' INVENTOR. Edgar A. T/fl/e ATTORNEY United States Patent T091. FOR HANDLING SPRING CLIPS Edgar A. Tuttle, Snmmerville, S. C.

Application July 30, 1954, Serial No. 446,783

2 Claims. (Cl. 29-235) My invention relates to a tool for handling spring clips and the like.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a tool for manipulating open ended spring clips of the type generally employed in automobile window raising mechanisms for maintaining washers, or the like upon studs of the window regulator arms.

Another object is to provide a tool of the abovementioned character which may be used to apply and remove the spring clips in relatively inaccessible spaces, where ordinary pliers cannot be conveniently used.

A further object is to provide a tool of the above-mentioned character which will accommodate several different forms of spring clips with equal facility.

Still another object is to provide a tool for handling clips which is highly simplified and compact in construction, easy to operate, and inexpensive to manufacture.

ther objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description. in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tool embodying the invention in an open or extended position,

Figure 2 is a further perspective view showing the opposite side of the tool when the same is open,

Figure 3 is an enlarged central vertical longitudinal section through the tool in its closed or gripping position, and illustrating the use of the tool for handling one type of spring clip,

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the inner face of one arm of the tool, and showing recesses which receive the spring clip shown in Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a further view similar to Figure 4 but with the spring clip removed,

Figure 6 is a further fragmentary plan view similar to Figures 4 and 5 but showing a modified form of spring clip engaging recesses of the tool, and,

Figure 7 is a further fragmentary plan view similar to Figure 6 and showing another modified form of spring clip engaging grooves formed in one arm of the tool.

In the drawings, where for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numerals 1t and 11 designate generally a pair of bars or arms which constitute the operating members of my tool. As shown in the drawings, the arms 10 and 11 are elongated and generally straight and flat, and the arm 11 may be somewhat longer than the arm 10, as shown. The arms 10 and 11 are pivotally connected for relative swinging and crossing movement near and inwardly of their forward ends by a suitable rivet 12 or like element. The opposed faces or sides of the arms 10 and 11 are flat, and slidably contact each other. While the arms 16 and 11 are relatively narrow or slender in both transverse directions, as shown, they are much thinner in the direction normal or perpendicular to the plane r 2,796,651 Egg Patented June 25, 1957 defined by their inner opposed faces than in the direction parallel to this plane.

The portions of the arms rearwardly of the rivet 12 are adapted to serve as handles, and the width of the handle portion of arm 11) may be somewhat less than that of the handle portion of arm 11, as shown, although the thickness of the handle portions is preferably the same.

The arm 10 has a forward transversely enlarged or widened extension 13, integral therewith, and tapered or bevelled upon its outer side to form a forward chisellike end or portion 14 with a straight transverse leading edge 15, which may be substantially sharp or knifelike. The inner face 16 of the forward extension 13 is flat and contiguous with the opposed flat faces of both arms 10 and 11. As shown in the drawings, the forward chisel-like extension or portion 14 is quite thin, although thick enough to be substantially rigid.

The arm 11 is provided at its forward end with a head or enlargement 17 of substantially the same Width as the chisel-like extension 14, and being of somewhat increased thickness with respect to the body or handle portion of the arm 11. The head 17 is materially thicker than the extension 14, as shown. The inner face 18 of the head 17 which opposes and slidably contacts the inner face of the extension 14 is fiat and contiguous with the plane of contact of the arms throughout their entire lengths.

The head 17 is provided in its inner face and near and inwardly of its forward corners 19 with a pair of forwardly converging diagonal recesses or grooves 20, which are preferably arcuate in cross section. The forward ends of the grooves 20 open through the forward end or edge 21 of the head 17, and their rear ends open through the sides of the head 17 as indicated at 22. The diagonal grooves 20 are preferably straight, and may converge forwardly for forming an angle between them of about 60 degrees. The depth of the grooves 20 may equal approximately one-half of the thickness of the head 17, and this is true of the other recesses or grooves in the inner face of the head 17 to be described. The rear ends 22 of the grooves 29 preferably open through the sides of the head 17 near its longitudinal center. Rearwardly converging diagonal recesses or grooves 23 of the same width, cross sectional shape and depth as the grooves 29 are formed in the inner face of the head 1'7, a substantial distance rearwardly of its leading transverse edge 21. The grooves 23 are preferably arranged at right angles to the grooves 20, and have their outer ends opening into the grooves 2% slightly forwardly of their rear open ends 22. The rearwardly converging grooves 23 have their inner ends communicating as at 24, to form a slightly rounded juncture of the grooves as shown. The rear open ends 22 of the grooves 20 are laterally adjacent the outer ends of the grooves 23, for providing lateral outlets through the sides of the head 17 from both sets of grooves 29 and 23. The formation of the grooves 29 and 23 in the inner face of the head 17 forms an approximately diamond shaped projection or lug 25 upon the inner face of the head 17, which is flush with the remainder of the inner face 18. The rear end portion of this diamond shaped lug 25 is beveled or inclined with respect to the flat face 18 as indicated at 26. This arrangement provides substantially a straight transverse passage orrecess across the inner face of the head 17, between the rear openings 22 of the grooves 20, for a purpose to be described.

The head 17 is additionally provided in the bottoms of the rear grooves 23 with a substantially V-shaped opening or slot 27, extending entirely through the head 17, and opening through its outer face. The branches or arms of the slot 27 and are parallel to the grooves 23 and substantially co-extensive therewith. The ll-shaped slot 27 3 is preferably flared or somewhat concave toward the outer side of the head 17 as best shown in Figure 3.

The use and operation of the tool above described is as follows:

As shown in Figure 3, the tool may be employed for applying or removing a spring or wire clip 28 to a pin or stud 29, upon which a pair of arms or links 30 and 31 are mounted. These links 30 and 31 may form parts of an automobile window raising mechanism, or the like. In Figure 3, the link 31 is urged toward one end of the pin 29 by a spring 32, which bears against a fluted washer 33. The element or link 31, in turn engages a flat washer 34, which is retained upon the pin or stud 29 by means of the spring clip 28. The spring clip 28 is of conventional and well-known construction, and comprises a pair of spring arms 35 of generally zigzag formation, including forward diverging end extensions 36, Figure 4. The rear ends of the zigzag arms 35 are connected by a loop or bight 37, adapted to engage within the grooves 23, and

substantially parallelling the same. Forwardly of the bight 37, the spring clip 28 has forwardly converging arm portions 39 which enter the grooves 20 and are substantially parallel therewith. The arm portions 39 and bight 37 thus substantially surround the diamond-shaped lug 25, as shown in Figure 4. Forwardly of the arm portions 39 of spring clip 28, the same has forwardly diverging and converging arm portions 4%) and 41, adapted to embrace the stud or pin 29, outwardly of the washer 34, Figure 3. The stud 29 is provided with a groove 42, outwardly of the washer 34 to receive the portions 46 and 41 of the arms 35 of spring clip 28.

The loop or bight portion 37 of the clip 23 is also upwardly bent or inclined somewhat with respect to the inner flat face 18 of the head 17, as indicated at 43 in Figure 3. The thus upwardly directed or inclined bight portion of the clip is received by the slot 27, so that the inclined bight portion may project toward the outer face of the head 17. The arm portions 39 and the bight portion 37 within the grooves 20 and 23 and the slot 27 are all below or inwardly of the flat face 18, and the portions 40 and 41 of the spring arms project forwardly from the leading ends of the grooves 20, as shown.

With the spring clip arm 11, the arm is swung to the closed or overlapping position relative to the arm 11. The chisel-like extension 14 now substantially completely covers the grooves and 23 and the diamond-shaped lug 25, and 'slidably contacts the flat face 18 of the head 17. The chisel-like extension 14 now serves to hold or retain the spring clip 28 within the grooves of the head 17, as above described, the grooves being sufiiciently deep to just accommodate the clip, and the spring arms forwardly of their portions 39 will project and 21 which are now in alignment. The tool is now used, without further adjustment to apply the spring clip 28 to the stud 29. The leading diverging extensions 36 forwardly of the leading edges 15 28 thus applied to the head 17 of i are shifted longitudinally forwardly across the stud or pin 29, at the groove 42, and these extensions will cause the spring arms 35 to spread so that the portions 40 and 41 may. snap into the groove 42 in the usual manner. The arms 10 and 11 may now be swung to their open or crossed positions, and the head 17 may readily be detached from the clip 28. The tool is usable with equal facility for grasping and removing the spring clip from the stud 29. r

' When the assemblage of parts to which the spring clip 28 is to be applied or removed from is in an inaccessible position, as between the panels of an automobile door, the long handle portion of the arm 11 may be held near its rear'end for inserting or removing the spring clip 28 from the stud or pin 29, as should be obvious.

It should be understood that the tool may be used for applying spring clips to various other assemblages or specifically shown in Figure 3 by way of example only,

accessible or inaccessible places. The extreme thinness or slenderness of the tool makes it highly useful for applying and removing the spring clips on parts which are arranged between closely spaced panels and the like.

In Figure 6, I have shown to some extent the use of the tool for manipulating a slightly modified form of spring clip 44, which difiers from the spring clip 28 mainly in that its bight portion 45 is straight, and disposed in the same plane as the spring arms 46 of the clip. Here, the V-shaped slot 27 is not utilized in conjunction with the modified clip 44, since the same is arranged wholly in one plane. The straight bight portion 45, however, is disposed partly within the grooves 23 and partly within the space forwardly of these grooves afforded by the bevelled portion 26 of the diamond-shaped lug 25. Otherwise, the clip 44 is associated with my tool in exactly the same manner as the clip 28, and the use and operation of the tool for applying and removing the clip 44 is otherwise identical to that shown and described in connection with the clip 28.

In Figure 7, I have shown the use of the tool in connection with a further modified form of clip 47 having a straight bight portion 48 of increased length, and lying in the same plane as the spring arms 49. Here, the V-shaped slot 27 is not utilized, nor are the forwardly converging grooves 20. Instead, the straight transverse bight portion 48 extends entirely through the transverse passage formed partly by the grooves 23 and bevelled portion 26, and through the open rear ends 22 of the grooves 20, which are in transverse alignment. The arms 49 of this larger type clip 47 are arranged wholly out- I side of the head 17 and overlapping chisel-like extension 14. However, the openings 22 will coact with the lug 25 to hold the bight portion 48 against turning or swinging within the transverse passage, as should be obvious when viewing Figure 7. The extension 14 serves as before to hold the clip 47 in place within the head 17. The use or operation of the tool in connection with the clip 47 is otherwise identical as previously described in connection with the clips 28 and 44.

It is thus seen that my tool may be utilized with three different standard forms of spring clips, and thus serves a wide variety of useful purposes.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in comprising an arm having a face, sai'd face being pro-.

vided with a generally U-shaped groove including an end and sides, the sides of the groove extending through the free end of said arm, said arm having a transverse opening formed therein at the closed end of the generally U-shaped groove, said opening extending below the bottom wall of said generally U-shaped groove, said generally U-shaped groove receiving portions of the sides of the spring clip and the closed end portion of the spring clip, the said opening receiving the laterally offset end portion of the spring clip, and a coacting arm movably connected with the first-named arm and movable across the generally U-shaped groove to cover the same and retain the clip therein.

2. A tool for applying a generally U-shaped resilient clip to a grooved stud or the like, said generally U-shaped clip having a transverse closed end portion which projects laterally beyond the sides of the clip, said tool comprising an arm having a substantially flat face, said face being provided with a generally .U-shaped groove-including an end and sides, the sides of the groove'extending through 5 the free end of said arm, said generally U-shaped groove forming a lug arranged within such groove and having its face substantially flush with the face of said arm, said arm having a transverse opening formed therein at the closed end of the generally U-shaped groove, said opening extending below the bottom wall of said generally U- shaped groove, said generally U-shaped groove receiving portions of the sides of the spring clip and the closed end portion of the spring clip, said opening receiving the laterally extending portion of the spring clip, said arm being provided upon the same face which has the generally U-shaped groove with transverse grooves which lead into the generally U-shaped groove adjacent to the closed end of the generally U-sllaped groove, the arrangement being such that a larger generally U-shaped clip may be arranged upon the outer side of said arm and have its trans- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 987,238 Kersten Mar. 21, 1911 1,647,204 Susdorf Nov. 1, 1927 2,403,666 Lubetsky July 9, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS 67,965 Denmark Nov. 15, 1948 

